Kokomo Arnold
Kokomo Arnold (James Arnold, Lovejoy's Station, Georgia, February 15, 1901 … Read Full Bio ↴Kokomo Arnold (James Arnold, Lovejoy's Station, Georgia, February 15, 1901 – Chicago, Illinois, November 8, 1968) was an American blues musician. A left-handed slide guitarist, his intense slide style of playing and rapid-fire vocal style set him apart from his contemporaries.
He got his nickname in 1934 after releasing "Old Original Kokomo Blues" for the Decca label; it was a cover of the Scrapper Blackwell blues song about the city of Kokomo, Indiana.
Having learned the basics of the guitar from his cousin, John Wiggs, Arnold began playing in the early 1920s as a sideline while he worked as a farmhand in Buffalo, New York, and as a steelworker in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1929 he moved to Chicago and set up a bootlegging business, an activity he continued throughout Prohibition. In 1930 Arnold moved south briefly, and made his first recordings, "Rainy Night Blues" and "Paddlin' Madeline Blues", under the name Gitfiddle Jim for the Victor label in Memphis. He soon moved back to Chicago, although he was forced to make a living as a musician after Prohibition ended in 1933. Kansas Joe McCoy heard him and introduced him to Mayo Williams who was producing records for Decca.
From his first recording for Decca on September 10, 1934, until his last on May 12, 1938, Arnold made 88 sides, seven of which remain lost. Arnold, Peetie Wheatstraw and Bumble Bee Slim were dominant figures in Chicago blues circles of that time. Peetie Wheatstraw & Arnold in particular were also major influences upon musical contemporary seminal delta blues artist Robert Johnson and thus modern music as a whole. Johnson turned "Old Original Kokomo Blues" into "Sweet Home Chicago", "Milk Cow Blues" into "Milkcow's Calf Blues", while another Arnold song, "Sagefield Woman Blues", introduced the terminology "dust my broom", which Johnson used as a song title himself.
Arnold's "Milk Cow Blues" was covered by Elvis Presley (as "Milk Cow Blues Boogie") at the Sun Studios produced by Sam Phillips and was issued as one of his early singles.
In 1938 Arnold left the music industry and began to work in a Chicago factory. Rediscovered by blues researchers in 1962, he showed no enthusiasm for returning to music to take advantage of the new explosion of interest in the blues among young white audiences.
He died of a heart attack in Chicago, aged 67, in 1968, and was buried in the Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.
He got his nickname in 1934 after releasing "Old Original Kokomo Blues" for the Decca label; it was a cover of the Scrapper Blackwell blues song about the city of Kokomo, Indiana.
Having learned the basics of the guitar from his cousin, John Wiggs, Arnold began playing in the early 1920s as a sideline while he worked as a farmhand in Buffalo, New York, and as a steelworker in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1929 he moved to Chicago and set up a bootlegging business, an activity he continued throughout Prohibition. In 1930 Arnold moved south briefly, and made his first recordings, "Rainy Night Blues" and "Paddlin' Madeline Blues", under the name Gitfiddle Jim for the Victor label in Memphis. He soon moved back to Chicago, although he was forced to make a living as a musician after Prohibition ended in 1933. Kansas Joe McCoy heard him and introduced him to Mayo Williams who was producing records for Decca.
From his first recording for Decca on September 10, 1934, until his last on May 12, 1938, Arnold made 88 sides, seven of which remain lost. Arnold, Peetie Wheatstraw and Bumble Bee Slim were dominant figures in Chicago blues circles of that time. Peetie Wheatstraw & Arnold in particular were also major influences upon musical contemporary seminal delta blues artist Robert Johnson and thus modern music as a whole. Johnson turned "Old Original Kokomo Blues" into "Sweet Home Chicago", "Milk Cow Blues" into "Milkcow's Calf Blues", while another Arnold song, "Sagefield Woman Blues", introduced the terminology "dust my broom", which Johnson used as a song title himself.
Arnold's "Milk Cow Blues" was covered by Elvis Presley (as "Milk Cow Blues Boogie") at the Sun Studios produced by Sam Phillips and was issued as one of his early singles.
In 1938 Arnold left the music industry and began to work in a Chicago factory. Rediscovered by blues researchers in 1962, he showed no enthusiasm for returning to music to take advantage of the new explosion of interest in the blues among young white audiences.
He died of a heart attack in Chicago, aged 67, in 1968, and was buried in the Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois.
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Kokomo Arnold Lyrics
Back Door Blues Says the blues come down the alley, headed up to…
Back On The Job Some of these days you're going to miss me, mama…
Big Ship Blues Now this big ship was a‑rocking, and my body's filled…
Busy Bootin' Busy bootin′ and you can't come in Busy bootin′ and you…
Front Door Blues Says I knocked on my front door mama, my good…
I'll Be Up Someday Says I've been traveling mama all by myself When I had…
Long and Tall Says I love you mama, but you don't even care…
Mean Old Twister Now this dark cloud is rising, and it's thundering all…
Milk Cow Blues Well, I've tried everything Just to get along with you And n…
Milk Cow Blues (Remastered) Hollerin' good mornin', I said blues how do you do? Hollerin…
Milk Cow Blues No.3 Well, I've tried everything Just to get along with you And n…
Milkcow Blues cll in good morning, I said, “Blues, how do you…
Mister Charlie Why shouldn't I take a chance mama, when good luck…
Old Original Kokomo Blues One and one is two, mama Two and two is four You…
Paddlin' Madeline Blues Paddlin' Madelin home Paddlin' Madelin home When I kiss yo…
Rainy Night Blues Now it was early one morning mama I was on my…
Sagefield Woman Blues Hollering little girl - what kind of little old girl…
Sally Dog Won't you let me be your salty dog, I don't…
Set Down Gal Said I ain't no preacher, I'm just a bachelor man Some…
Set Down Gal (Remastered) Said I ain't no preacher, I'm just a bachelor man Some…
Shake That Thing Now down in Georgia they got a dance that's new There…
Sissy Man Blues I believe, I believe I'll go back home I believe, I…
Sister Jane Cross the Hall Says, old Sister Jane, right 'cross the hall, She got good…
Slop Jar Blues Says I feel just like mama, throwing my slop jar…
Southern Railroad Blues Says my gal she caught the Southern, and the fireman…
The Twelves Says I want everybody, fall in line Shake your shimmy, like…